Weather Averages

High

Low

Precip

Days w/

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

470 mi
757 km of trail
—
14 Featured Runs

7 Gems 35 Trails 36 Trails 12 Trails

Grand Canyon National Park encompasses 1,218,375 acres and lies on the Colorado Plateau in northwestern Arizona. Highlighted by the Grand Canyon, which is one of the most studied geologic landscapes in the world, the park's rich geologic history is astounding in scope and immense in size. The Grand Canyon, incised by the Colorado River, is 277 miles long and averages 4,000 feet deep. At its deepest point, the canyon is 6,000 feet deep and spans 18 miles at its widest point. The park offers an excellent record of three of the four eras of geological time, a rich and diverse fossil record, a vast array of geologic features and rock types, and numerous caves containing extensive and significant geological, paleontological, archeological, and biological resources.

Local Info

Desert View Watchtower: Hours vary according to season, open year round

The North Rim Visitor Center: 8 am to 6 pm daily, May 15-October 15.

Visiting Tips

The South Rim of the park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. All visitor services are available year round. Reservations are strongly recommended during spring, summer, and fall. Some facilities close during the winter.

The North Rim of the park is open from May 15 through October 15 each year. Reservations for lodging and camping are strongly recommended. The North Rim Campground site may be booked through October 31. The campground is open two weeks longer than the Grand Canyon Lodge which closes on October 15.

Camping & Lodging

Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of camping and lodging options at the South and North Rim. For most sites, reservations are required, and it is recommended that reservations are made far in advance as most of the park lodging tends to be full much of the year. Reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance by calling 1-877-444-6777 or online at www.recreation.gov. For more information on camping and lodging in and around Grand Canyon National Park, visit the park's website.

Desert View Campground: Open April 19 through mid-October. This campground is first come, first served only. No reservations are accepted.

Trailer Village: A concessioner-operated RV park with full hook-ups located in Grand Canyon Village.

North Rim Campground: Open May 15 through October 31. Group sites are also available.

Phantom Ranch: Open year round and located at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Reservations are required and can be made up to 13 months in advance through Xanterra, 888-297-2757.

Food & Drink

Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of restaurant options. Click here for a list of restaurant options inside and outside of the park.

Other Activities

While you definitely want to spend some time hiking around and below the rim of the Grand Canyon, don't let your exploration of the park stop there. Grand Canyon National Park offers a variety of other activities that you'll want to take advantage of including museums, mule trips, road biking, scenic shuttles, historic sites, whitewater and smoothwater rafting, scenic drives, and a trip on the Grand Canyon railway. If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, come prepared to rock climb one of the many technical routes up the various temples, mostly featuring soft sandstone and lots of excitement.

If you are looking for other nearby activities on your way to and from the park, a great option is mountain biking the Rainbow Rim Trail just outside of the park. The Rainbow Rim Trail offers 18 miles (one-way) of exceptional solitude on a remote rim of the Grand Canyon. The trail offers an extremely unique experience as it is the only singletrack trail on the rim of the Grand Canyon open to bikes. Trails in nearby Grand Canyon National Park are closed to bicycles.